Horn forming weight



J1me 1941- E. e. STONE HORN FORMING WEIGHT File d Sept. 20, 1940 M dl TOJFNEV Patented June 10, 1941 HORN FORZMING WEIGHT Ernest G. Stone, Denver, 0010., assignor to 0. M.

Franklin Serum Company, Denver, 0010., a corporation of Colorado Application September 20, 1940, Serial No. 357,584

2 Claims. (01. 128-76) This invention relates to improvements in horn forming weights.

Stockmen and breeders of fancy cattle find it necessary at times to affect the natural growth of one or both of the horns of an animal for the purpose of assuring that both will curve symmetrically and to give them the most desirable downward slant.

For the purpose of controlling the curvature and slant of horns it is customary to apply to their tips weights which, when in position, exert a constantly acting force tending to bend the horns downwardly. The mass of such Weights may be the same for both horns, or difierent, depending on whether the horns are symmetrically inclined or not.

It is necessary for such weights to be provided with means for readily and securely attaching them to the horns, which means must not cause the animal pain or discomfort, and which in addition, will not deform or otherwise injure the surface of the horns.

It is the object of this invention to produce a horn weight having a simple and substantial means for attaching it to a horn, which means is readily releasable and which will not pain the animal or injure the horn.

Another object is to produce a horn weight in which the attaching means is of such construction that the force is distributed over a large area of the horn surface and in which the pressure can be distributed in a comparatively uniform way over the surface of the horn contacted.

Another object is to produce a clamping means of simple and substantial construction which shall be attached to the weight in such a way that the parts will not get lost during transportation and handling. The above and any other objects that may become apparent as this description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail, reference being had for this purpose to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the weight;

Figure 2 is a diametrical longitudinal section taken on line 2-2, Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view showing the weights in position on the horns of an animal.

In the drawing, reference numeral 5 designates a metal body of circular cross section, and of any suitable mass; this part will hereinafter be referred to as the weight. The weight is provided with a longitudinally extending tapered opening 6 of substantially circular cross section. The wall of opening 6 is provided on one side of a diameter with an elongated depressed area I in which is positioned a clamp block 8, shaped to fit the depressed area. In the embodiment illustrated the clamp block is of concave-convex cross section but this is not an essential. It is desirable however that the inner surface shall be transversely concave and tapered so as to conform to the surface of the horn, which has been designated by reference numeral 9. The surface directly opposite the recess or depressed area I is provided with corrugations, or other irregularities ID, that engage the surface of the horn and cooperate with the knobbed or irregular surface ll of the clamp block 8 to secure the weight to a horn. The wall of the weight which forms the bottom of the depressed area or recess is provided with a hole I2 which has an outer section of enlarged diameter so as to form an outwardly facing shoulder l3 that forms an abutment for one end of a helical compression spring [4 Whose other end abuts the head l5 of a pin [6. The other end of pin l6 extends through a hole in the clamp block 8 and is secured thereto by riveting. The weight is provided with an opening I! positioned diametrically opposite from hole I2, through which a riveting tool can be inserted. The wall of the depressed area is also provided with two threaded openings l8 in which are operatively positioned set screws I9 whose inner ends contact the outer surface of the clamp block and serve to move the latter and to adjust its angular position for the purpose of fitting the taper of a horn.

Pin [6 serves to movably attach the clamp block to the weight and to keep it from getting lost, and does not perform the function of a pivot or fulcrum. When the weight is to be applied the set screws I9 are turned back thereby permitting the spring M to move the clamp block towards the bottom of the recess. is then positioned on the end of the horn, after which the set screws are turned in a direction to urge the clamp block against the surface of the horn. By proper manipulation of the set screws the inclination of the clamp plate can be adjusted to fit the taper of the horn and the pressure uniformly distributed over a large area of horn surface. The clamp block is preferably made from brass or steel so that it can bend slightly without breaking as this allows it to conform more closely to the shape of the horn.

The specific construction illustrated and de- The weight scribed permits the weights to be readily applied and removed, prevents the clamp plate from becoming detached and permits the pressure to be distributed in a comparatively uniform manner over a large area of horn surface.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A horn weight adapted to be attached to the horn of an animal, said weight having a tapered opening therethrough, the wall of said opening having an elongated depressed area extending lengthwise of the opening, a clamping block positioned in the opening, the wall of the depressed area having a hole, a headed pin extending through the hole, the inner end of the pin being attached to the clamping block whereby the latter will be anchored to the weight, and two set screws threadedly connected with the weight for engagement with the clamp block on opposite sides of its attachment to the weigh.

2. A horn weight adapted tobe attached to the horn of an animal, said weight having a tapered opening therethrough, the wall of said opening having an elongated depressed area extending lengthwise of the opening, a clamping block positioned in the opening, the wall of the depressed area having a hole, the wall of the hole having an outwardly facing shoulder, a headed pin extending through the hole, the inner end of the pin being secured to the clamp block, a helical compression spring surrounding that portion of the pin between the shoulder and the head for urging the clamp block towards the bottom of the depressed area, and two set screws threadedly connected with the weight and positioned for engagement with the clamp block on opposite sides of the pin, said screws serving to move the clamp block inwardly into engagement with the surface of a tapered horn and to adjust the inclination of the block to correspond to the taper thereof.

ERNEST G. STONE. 

